Voters in the Bryan Independent School District (BISD) in Texas approved all three propositions featured in the district’s bond referendum, authorizing $397 million for general campus, athletics and technology improvement projects.
Proposition A received the lion’s share of the bond’s funding amount, totaling $325.5 million to build and renovate facilities, maintain campus buildings and implement updated safety and security measures. Plans include rebuilding Bryan Collegiate High School, repairing and expanding the Bryan High School (BHS) kitchen and cafe and PE dressing and locker rooms. A new multipurpose gym will be built at Rudder High School (RHS), alongside expansions for the PE dressing, locker and weight rooms.
The district will also improve and renovate Career and Technical Education (CTE) classrooms and barbering and cosmetology labs across both BHS and RHS. Additional work will include building a CTW and Agricultural multi-purpose teaching and training facility at the CTE complex. As part of its efforts to support fine arts education, BISD will build a new auditorium, expand a band hall, renovate dance classrooms and mariachi spaces and procure new band trailers, uniforms and equipment.
Maintenance work will comprise a significant portion of the district’s focus as it works to update and reinforce facilities across all campuses. Projects will include repairing and replacing mechanical systems, including chillers, boilers and HVAC units. The district will also repair and replace roofs, plumbing, electricity, flooring, interior wall finishes and paint and restrooms. Various additional site improvements will include repairing and replacing erosion damage, drainage infrastructure and sewer lines.
To effectively safeguard faculty, staff and students, BISD will repair and install new fire alarm systems, renew the district’s phone system, install security cameras and monitoring systems and repair and replace public address systems. The project vision also calls for buying new buses, district vehicles and agricultural trucks.
Proposition B is the second largest allocation approved by voters, providing $67.4 million to upgrade athletics facilities and fields. The district will rebuild the field house at Merrill Green Stadium and replace the video board and sound system. Baseball and softball fields at BHS and RHS will receive new synthetic turf, batting cage covers, locker and dressing rooms and a renovated concession stand and restrooms.
To support the track and multi-sport fields, BISD will install synthetic turf, resurface the track and expand bleachers across three campuses. Additional plans involve installing new indoor and outdoor scoreboards at multiple schools.
The remaining $4.1 million featured in the bond referendum will support installing all-in-one interactive digital classroom displays in all campus facilities.
Photo by Pixabay
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